Contemporary Trends in Educational Leadership and Management: Capacity Building for Empowering Research

Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of leadership practices and psychological empowerment in educational research environments, highlighting the essential role of educational leadership in cultivating research cultures and expanding research capacity. It explores various leadership theories—transformational, servant, and transactional leadership—and their applicability in educational settings, emphasizing the need for positive leadership to foster conducive research environments. The study delves into the impact of toxic leadership styles, the importance of capacity building for research empowerment, and the role of open access publishing in disseminating research findings. Additionally, it investigates the psychological aspects of research motivation, focusing on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and the foundational role of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) in understanding research motivation. Empirical case studies demonstrate the positive effects of empowering leadership on psychological empowerment and job performance, advocating for empowering leadership practices to enhance researcher motivation, engagement, and innovation.